Apparatus for pickling and/or mixing grain and for other analogous purposes



- A. J. BISHOP APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND/ OR MIXING GRAIN AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUB PURPOSES Patented a. 27, .1925,

UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED JAMES BIBHOI, 6E MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

urm'ros ron rroxrme AND/0R mxmo cum Aim r02. oma numeous runrosns.

Application filed June is, 1925. Serial n. 38,028.

To all whom it may 0mm:

Be it known that I, ALFRED JAMES BISHOP,

- a subject of the King of- Great Britain and ling Ireland, and a resident of Melbourne, county of Bourke, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for Picklin and/or Mixing Grain and for Other .Ana ogous Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the pickling and mixing; or sim lar treatment of grain and other li e mater als and refers more particularly to grain plckor dusting apparatus accordlng to which a dry powdered medium such as copper-carbonate or copper sulphate or other suitable substance is mixed with the gram to thereby counteract injurious influences such as ball smut or bunt and promote the germination of the grain.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide animproved machine of the general class mentioned which is of compact and reliable construction and will ensure the grain and powder being intimately and thoroughly mixed so'that the germinating properties of the and enhanced to the fu lest extent.

Other objects and advantages will be apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings which refer particularly to an improved machine for pickling or dusting grain. It will also be evident that apparatus embodying the sameessential' features may be utilized for mixing grain chafi, flour and other like materials, and that various modifications, alterations, and additions may be incorporated in the particular construction and arrangement of parts employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification Figure 1 is a front elevation of a grain pickling machine in accordance with the invention. Various arts are shown in section andothers are bro en away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken in a lane-at right angles to Figure 1.

igures 3 and 4 are detail views of'a conveyor seen in Figure 2.

ain are preserved.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is afragmentary sectional view of powder feedm'g mechanism embodied in the machine.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 2.

In the drawings the reference numeral 2 des gnates a stand or framework capable of Sn portm the machine. The legs at one s1 e of t 15 frameworkmaybe equipped with wheels or castors as at 3 whereby the machine may be readily wheeled from place I to place when so desired.

The numeral 4 indicates a grain hop er and 6 an elevator preferably of the hue et type whlch operates within an elevator housmg 7 and delivers the grain into a preferably cylindrical conve or casing-"8 by way of an inlet orifice 9 ormed in the casing 8 ad acent one end thereof. The elevator housing may be provided with an inspection cover as at 5. AnArchimedian screw conveyor 11 is housed within the casing 8 which also provides an axle for a rotary drum 12 the interior of which forms a mixmg chamber 13 hereinafter referred to. The conveyor casing 8 may be held stationar by means of brackets or clamps 10 whic also retain the rotary drum in proper longitudlnal position on the said casing.

The rotary drum 12 is mounted upon the casing 8 approximately midway of its length so that the latter has two end portions or what may be termed feed and delivery portions 8 and 8" which project axiall from each side of .the rotary drum, the a oresaid inlet orifice 9 being formed in the feed or inlet portion 8.

The conveyor spindle 16 passes at its ends through bearin apertures formed in caps or closures 17 tted to the ends of the conveyor casin 8. i

It is considered preferable to employ copper carbonate in finely powdered-form as the picklingmedium and a supply thereof may'be placed within an elevated ho er or rece tacle 18 which may be fitted wit a remova le closure 19. The powder receptacle 18 may have a reduced neck portion 20 whereby it may be detachably fitted within a socket piece 21 carried by or attached to the adjacent face of the elevator housing 7 as shown in Figure 6. The open bottom of the reduced neck portion 20 is vertically aligned above a port or slot 22 formed in a' rotatable sleeve or tube 23 which extends slot 24 is formed in the lower part of the rotatable sleeve 23 in verticalali the aforesaid inlet orifice 9 of t e conveyor casing 8. The sleeve 23may be turned or adjusted by means of a hand or finger piece 26 to thereby bring more or less of the port or slot 22 into communication with the reduced neck of the powder receptacle and thus regulatethe rate of the powder feed.

Powdered copper carbonate has a' tendency to solidify or pack into a hard mass. In order to counteract this and to ensure that the powder in the sleeve 23 is efl'ec-' tively conveyed along said sleeve so that it.

may pass through the port 24 into the conveyor casin 8, a spindle 27 may extend longitudinal y within said sleeve and a spring 28 coiled around and fixed at one end to the spindle 27 so that upon. rotation of the latter the spring 28, in addition to feeding the powder towards the port or slot 24, sets up a vibrating or trembling action whereby the pickling medium is agitated and maintained in its powdered condition.

For reasons similar to those stated in the preceding paragraph a spring 29 may be accommodated by the reduced neck portion 20 of the powder receptacle and operatively connected as indicated at 31 (Fi ure 1) to a reciprocatory rod 32 whereby the powder in the receptacle 18 is subjected to a continual vibration or trembling action of the spring 29.

The shaft 33 at the upper or inner end of the elevator 6 may be power driven or it may be rotated by hand for instance by means of a hande lever such as 34. Rotary motion may be transmitted from shaft 33 to the screw conveyor 11, the rota drum 12, and the powder feedspindle 27, y suitable gearing, belting or driving chains as indicated at 36, 87 and 38 res ectively.

. Communication is\ establis ed between the interior of the conveyor casing 8 and the mixing chamber 13 by orifices 41 and 42, the orifice 41 being formed in the underneath or bottom part of saiduzonveyor jcasingwhere it enters the side of the rotary um nearest the grain and powde r inlet orifice 9. The orificev42 is formed in the spindle 16 between the adjacent ends of 't e two sections of the conveyor to ensure that the incomin grain and powder fall through the ori cs 41 into the mixing ment with be attached to the conveyor casing 8 so as to extend beneath the orifice 41 thereof and direct the grain and powder from said orifice 41 towards the opposite side of the mixin chamber 13.

he grain and powder entering the mixing chamber 13 are therein subjected to a whirling or agitating action produced by the rotation of the drum and are thereby intimately' and thoroughly mixed together so that the individual particles of grain are dusted or coated with the powdered pickling medium. A series of bafiles or agitators indicated at 45 are preferably disposed around the inner perip cry of the rotary drum to ensure a satisfactory whirling or mixing action. These baffies or agitators 45 may be arranged so as to prevent the grain and powder bein prematurely gathered by scoops 46 whic are also disposed within the mixin chamber 13.

I One or more 0 these scoops may be carried on the inner periphery of the rotary drum 12 and a sieve or screen 47 having perforations of less dimensions than the grain to betreated is stationarily mounted within said drum and inclined downwardly towards the orifice42. Associated with the sieve or perforated screen 47 is a stationary director comprisin upstanding walls 48 which-are dispose at dither slde of said sieve and may be adapted to su port same as indicated in Fi ures 2 and During each rotation of t e'drum 12 the scoops gather a quantity of the grain and owder and carry it to a osition above the sleve 47 onto which it fa Is by gravity, thegrain bein directed" by the move and the upstan ing walls 48 through the orifice42 into the delivergl portion 8 of the conveyor casing whilst t e powder, or at least the greater part of it, may fall through the sieve and be again mixed with the grain in the mixing c amber as aforesaid.

The screw conveyor 11 may-be provided with projections 49 whereby the grain and powder are mixed together dunng their passage along the conveyor casing as well as may be formed by cutting the screw at its periphery and bending or offsetting said out portions sidewardly. as shown in Figures B and 4.

Suitable arrangements are. made at the outer end of the deliver portion 8 of the conveyor casing for disc arging the treated grain. As shown in Figures 2 and 5 a duplex bagging mechanism, comprising a pair of inchned delivery chutes 51 which are 0 nod and closed alternately by a suitable s utter 52, may be provided.- Hooks 53 may be provided for convenience in holding Eggs or like receptacles in position during ng operations.

Powder collecting boxes 54 having perforated or foraminous tops or sieves 56 may be removably retained on'the lower inclined walls of the delivery chutes 51 by wing nuts or the like 57 to thereb trap any excess powder and prevent. it rom passing with the grain into the bags or other receptacles.

The rotary drum ma affording access to t e interior thereof for cleansing and other purposes, said opening being normally closed by a dust proof door 50".

It will be evident from the foregoing that the grain and powder, throughout their assage along the conveyor housing and w ile in-the rotary mixing drum, are continuously and intimately mixed together so that a most thorough\and effective pickling of the grain is obtained. -The machine is consequently economical in the use of the .powdered pickling material, any escape thereof except by way of the delivery chutes 51 being obviated. a Z

If desired adjustable baflies or the llke (not shown) may be provided to cover the orifices 4:1 and 42 in the conveyor caslng so that the materials within the mixing chamber 13 may be subjected to an" agitating or diffusing action for an extended period. The, supply of grain and powder may also be ar rested during this period for example by closing the inlet orifice 11 of the conveyor casing.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let? ters Patent is:- j

1. Mixing apparatus, comprising a drum, the interior of which constitutes a mixing chamber, a stationary casing passing substantially horizontally through the drunr and whereon said drum is rotatably mounted, said casing-having orifices to establish cpmmunication between its interior and the mixing chamber; and screw conveying means within the casingfor conducting the materials to be mixedmto and away from said mixing chamber by way of said orifices.

.2. Mixing apparatus, comprising a drum, the interior of which constitutes a mixing chamber; a stationary casing passing sub stantially horizontally through the drum and whereon said drum is rotatabl' mounted, said casing having an orifice in ilslower side to discharge the materials to be Ifiixed from the casing into ,thelower part of the mixing chamber, and also having an orifice in its upper side to admit the mixed materials into the casing-from the upper part of said chamber; and screw conveying means within said casing for conducting the materials therein to the first-named orifice and discharging from the apparatus the-mate'- rials admitted through the second-named orifice.

3. Mlxing apparatus, according to claim have an opening ity of the screweconveying means is interrupted by a gap at-a point between saidorifices; and wherein a transverse partition is located in such gap between the resultant sections of the conveyor.

4. Mixing apparatus, comprising a drum, Y

the interior of which constitutes a mixing chamber; a stationary casing passing substantially horizontally through the drum and whereon said drum is rotatably niounted; said casing projecting beyond each side .of the drum and having one projecting portion provided near its outer end with an inlet aperture for the materials to be mixed,

and the other projectingportion provided with means for discharging the materials after having been mixed; the" intermediate portion of the casing having orifices to establish communication between the interior of the'ca'sing and the mixing chamberyand screw-conveying means w thin the casing for conducting the materials to be mixed into and away from said mixing chamber by way of said orifices.

5; Mixing apparatus, according to claim 2-, in which the conveyor casing projects be. yond each side of the drum, one projecting portion having an inlet aperture near. its

outer end for-the materials tobe mixed, and the other projecting portion having means for discharging the mixed materials; the orifice in the lowerpart of the casing being located within the drum and adjacent that side of said drum from which the first- .named endportion of the casing projects,

and the orifice in the upper part of the casing being likewise located within the drum but adjacent the side from whichthe second named end portion of the casing projects.

6. Mixing apparatus, comprising a drum, the interior of which constitutes a mixing chamber; astationary casing passing substantially horizontally through the drum and whereon said drum is rotatably mounted, said casing having orifices to establish communication between its interior and the mixing chamber, and a screw conveyor within the casing'for conducting the materials to be mixed into and away from said mixing chamber by way of said orifices, said conveyor having offset projections to assist in the mixing of the materials as they are .conducted along the conveyor casing.

. 7. Mixing apparatus, comprising a drum,

the interior of which constitutes a mixing chamber; a stationary casingpassing substantially horizontally through the drum and whereon said drum is rotatably mounted, said drum having orifices to establish communication between its interior and the mixing chamber; means for feeding grain into said casing near one end thereof; means operating in unison with the grain-feeding dered material, a hand a tube having a port or slot adapted to con-- .dered material an .wards said mixing chamber.

means to automatically a medium into the casing; means for a the rate of feedofthe pickling medlum in relation to that of the ain; anda'. screw conveyor within the casmg for conducting. the grain and pickhng medium intoan away from the mixing chamber by way'of said orifices. I I 8. Mixing a paratus, comprising a drum, the interior '0 which constitutes'a 'mixing chamber; a stationary casing assing substantially horizontally throng the drum and whereon said drum is rotatably mounted, said drum having orifices to establish communication between its interior and the mixin chamber; means for feeding grain .into said casing near one end-thereof; means trol the escape of thepowdered material from said rece tacle and a second port at a different longitudinal position to the first named port, and a conveyor element mount ed within said tube and adapted to conduct the powdered material along said tube from the first to the second named ort, from which latter port it is conveye into said mixing chamber with the grain under treatment. g

10. In apparatus for the purpose indicated, means for feeding powdered pickling material to the grain under treatment within a mixing chamber, comprising a coiled spring arranged and adapted to set u a vibrating or tremblin action within sai powto feed the latter to- 11. In apparatus of the nature indicated, the combination ofa rotary drum, the interiorr of which forms a mixing chamber, aconveyor casing passing through said drum,

agitators disposed within the drum, scooplusting i'n'g means on the inner periphery mixing chamber said casing avm an ori= fice formed 1n its lower drum and-a second orifice ormed in its upart wit in said per part, and'a' erforated screenmember mounted within t e mixing chamber above said conveyor casing, said screen being inclined downwardly towards the last named orifice. '12. In apparatus of the nature indicated, the combination of a rotary drum forming therein a mixing chamber, means for feeding grain and pick mg powder into said mixin chamber, means carried by and within sai drum for raising said materials from the lower to the upper part of said mixin chamber, and means stationarily mounted within said drum for receiving and directing thematerials dropped by ravity from the upper part of the mixing c amber, into a discharge or delivery passage leading from said mixing chamber.

13. Apparatus according to claim 14 characterized in that the said receiving an directing means includes a screen having perforations of less dimensions than the grain," whereby the grain is directed into said discharge or delivery passe e while the excess powder falls throng sai screen and returns to the lower part of the mixing chamber. P

14. Apparatus for the purpose indicated, comprising a supporting framework, 9. rotary mixingdrum, a conveyor casing adapted to form an ,axle for said mixing drum, a conve or located within said casing, mechanism or feeding grain and powdered material in desired proportionate quantities into one end of said conveyor casing, driving means for simultaneously actuating said grain and powder feeding mechanism, said conveyor and, said rotary drum, means whereby the grain and powdered material are transferred from said conveyor casin into the interior of said rotary drum an after the mixing operation are returned from said drum into saidconveyor casing, and means located at the discharge end of said conveyor casing for bagging the treated grain and collecting the surplus powdered material.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALFRED JAMES BISHOP. 

